Updated: Stuart Skinner starts, Henrique unavailable for Oilers in Game 6

In a do-or-die Game 6, the Edmonton Oilers will make another change in goal tonight as Stuart Skinner returns to the crease on home ice.

He’ll replace Calvin Pickard, who drew in for Games 4 and 5, helping his club secure a win and keep another close. Across them, he posted a .915 save percentage, allowing five goals on 59 shots while saving 1.67 goals above expected, according to Evolving Hockey.

Pickard had taken over from Skinner after the series’ rocky first three games. Allowing 12 goals against on 58 shots, he was pulled in the third period of Game 3, and the Oilers opted to start their backup in the most recent two games.

While returning to Pickard would’ve been the safer choice for the Oilers, the move to Skinner highlights the organization’s confidence and belief in him. While his numbers in the post-season haven’t bore it, he is, after all, the goaltender’s No. 1 netminder and has been all year.

From the coaching change in mid-November through the rest of the regular season, Skinner was a big reason for the club’s success, which saw them post the NHL’s best record. His 34-11-4 record saw him win the most games of any goaltender, and among all netminders with 10 or more starts, his .912 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average ranked ninth and 11th, respectively.

In addition, according to Evolving Hockey, his 20.17 goals saved above expected ranked seventh in the league. The Oilers will look for him to regain that prowess in the crease tonight.

It’s not the only lineup change the team is making, as forward Adam Henrique draws back into the lineup. Suffering an ankle injury in the first round against the L.A. Kings, he missed Game 1 of the Oilers’ series against the Canucks, but played in Game 2. He only played 11:38 of ice time, with his injury clearly hampering him.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch described Henrique in recent days as “day-to-day,” noting he could be an option for the team as the series progressed.

Henrique and centre Sam Carrick were acquired by the Oilers days before the NHL trade deadline from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for their 2024 first-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025. The condition on the draft pick would see it upgraded to a fourth-round pick that year if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup this year.

In 22 regular season games, Henrique scored six goals and nine points, averaging 14:50 of ice time. He has one goal and two points across six playoff games, averaging 15:10 in ice time.

Kris Knoblauch spoke to the media after the team’s morning skate and announced that Adam Henrique will not be able to return for Game 6. Despite earlier reports that he could get swapped in for Corey Perry, the painful high-ankle sprain Henrique sustained against the L.A. Kings is too much for him to get back in the lineup.